Chappie Critcher is fond of the kangaroos that roam around his home in Holiday Haven Bendalong, but he is wary of one big roo that lurks. The 90-year-old was attacked by his "good friend" and suffered minor injuries early on Saturday, June 22 while feeding rainbow lorikeets in the dish outside his caravan. In a burst of scratches, the approximately six foot tall Eastern Grey opened his up the skin alongside his eye and cut his face and lip. "I was talking to my mate Graham and he bounced over and got into me," Mr Critcher says as he reenacts a clawing kangaroo. "We were good friends before this." Mr Critcher, who has lived at the caravan park for most of the past 40 years, went to visit his wife Nancy at hospital and was patched up by the staff. The retired miner was concerned about kangaroos attacking mothers with prams, children on bikes and older persons on scooters. Mr Critcher said the animals and birds had tolerated humans over the past 30 to 40 years. But, since dogs have been permitted at the caravan park, he has noticed a change in the kangaroo behaviour. He believed kangaroos feel threatened when they can smell dogs nearby. "They've befriended humans, accepted humans into their clan, clique whatever is, but now they're getting a bit suspicious, human beings with dogs." While he's able to laugh about it now and hopes to rekindle the friendship, a neighbour will give a the mob a wide berth if the "big roo" is about. "My mate over here is terrified of him."